Delhi’s metro corridors turned into a site of protest on Tuesday as student groups rallied against the newly implemented fare hike, demanding its immediate rollback and the introduction of concessional passes. The revision, announced by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), has increased ticket prices by ₹1 to ₹4 depending on the distance travelled, ending an eight-year freeze on fares.
The hike, according to DMRC officials, was necessitated by financial stress due to pandemic-induced losses, loan repayments, and the rising costs of operations and maintenance. Yet, students argue that the move disproportionately affects young commuters and women, who rely heavily on the metro as a safe and reliable mode of transport.Several student organisations mobilised outside DMRC’s headquarters, warning that the added travel expenses could push lakhs of students towards unsafe and unregulated alternatives such as overcrowded buses and private shared transport.
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Protesters emphasised that students already spend close to ₹100 daily on metro travel, and the fare revision would add an additional burden of ₹500–800 per month to their budgets.For many, this is not a matter of convenience but of survival. Students pointed out that even a small rise of ten rupees per trip translates into hundreds more each month, forcing trade-offs between travel and essential expenses like books, meals, and study materials. The impact is particularly stark for those from middle-class and economically disadvantaged backgrounds, for whom education-linked mobility is inseparable from financial stability.
Gender equity emerged as a central concern in the protests. Activists stressed that the metro is more than a transport system it is the safest daily corridor for women to reach colleges, workplaces, and homes. By making it unaffordable, the fare hike risks curtailing women’s freedom of movement, undermining both safety and access to opportunity.Beyond students, concerns are also being raised about the broader implications for sustainable urban mobility. Experts argue that fare policies should encourage public transport adoption rather than drive commuters towards private vehicles, which worsen congestion, pollution, and carbon emissions. They warn that increasing fares without targeted concessions may weaken the push towards zero net carbon urban mobility a critical national and global goal.
Student groups have also accused political leaders of failing to deliver on promises of metro concessions. Ahead of elections, several parties pledged subsidised student passes, but no such measures have materialised. With urban commuting costs rising, protesters are urging both the Centre and the state government to step in and ensure equitable access to public transport through a minimum 50 per cent concession for students.While authorities have reiterated that the fare hike was unavoidable, the protests highlight a deeper question: who pays the price for sustainable urban infrastructure? For now, the voices on Delhi’s streets reflect the growing demand for a transport system that is not only financially sustainable but also socially equitable and gender sensitive.
